Plastic is one of the most used and popular forms of packaging and material used to create everything from toys, tools, clothes, containers, electronics and many more. Plastic is very robust and versatile substance that allows people to use products in such a way that can not be used with the materials found out in nature. Today, Plastic comes in so many different forms, shapes and densities and the recipe for more sustainable and better plastics are developed everyday.
Plastic was first discovered all the way back in 1855, by Alexander Parkes. Parkes first called the Plastic he created was called Parkesine which was later renamed to Celluloid. The First form of plastic was made from natural materials that had similar properties to plastic, like shellac and also Tree Gum. As the years moved on and technology advanced, methods were upped and changed and chemicals were being added to materials like rubber, collagen, galalite and nitrocellulose. After many different attempts and experiments a range of completely synthetic materials that can be considered plastics back around 100 years ago.
One of the most popular forms of plastics are PVC and was polymerized around 1838 – 1855. PVC is a form of plastic that is very versatile and is used in plumbing as it is very erosion resistant and against the flow of water and other outside impacts. PVC is very strong, allowing it to contain quite an amount of weight before breaking. One key breakthroughs came in 1907 when a Belgian-American chemist Leo Baekland created a form of plastic called Bakelite, the first true and real synthetic form of plastic that was mass produced.
Since Baekland’s revolutionary creation many different scientists have experimented, adjusted and created their own unique form of plastic that offer a very wide range of usefulness that the plastic that was first created. Plastics now are used in all forms of products and product ranges from home supplies, office supplies, factory supplies and vehicle supplies. The way plastics are gaining speed and popularity today it is exciting and thought provoking on how plastic will advance in the next 100 years or more.
There are two popular types of plastics that are used in the production and distribution of plastic products. Because of the layout of the molecules that form Polyethylene can come in low density or high density. LDPE plastic is much softer and less dense then normal plastics and are used in a variety of unique products. Irrigation Systems use LDPE Plastics as these plastics are flexible and more malleable than HDPE plastics. HDPE plastic is more densely packed plastic that has a stronger and more solid molecular layout, providing very sturdy and strong form of plastics that are used for more rugged and heavy duty jobs. HDPE Pipes, Plastic Outdoor Chairs and sprinkler systems all use HDPE Plastic
